Security Council, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1961 (2010),

Renews Arms Embargo on Liberia for 12 Months

The Security Council today renewed for 12 months its arms embargo on Liberia and its travel ban on persons deemed threatening to the country’s peace process.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1961 (2010), the Council also urged the Government of Liberia to implement the recommendations of the 2009 review team on the Kimberley Process, which certifies the exploitation of diamonds in a manner benefiting the country and not fuelling conflict.

The Council demanded that the Government make all necessary efforts to fulfil its obligations regarding the freezing of former President Charles Taylor’s assets, those of his family members and other individuals. Recalling that those requirements remained in effect, it noted with serious concern the lack of progress in implementing them.

Also by the text, the Council extended until 16 December 2011 the mandate of the Panel of Experts monitoring the implementation of measures on Liberia, and set out the Panel’s activities for that period.

The meeting began at 3:07 p.m. and ended at 3:09 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1961 (2010) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the situation in Liberia and West Africa,

“Welcoming the sustained progress made by the Government of Liberia since January 2006, in rebuilding Liberia for the benefit of all Liberians, with the support of the international community,

“Recalling its decision not to renew the measures in paragraph 10 of resolution 1521 (2003) regarding round log and timber products originating in Liberia, and stressing that Liberia’s progress in the timber sector must continue with the effective implementation and enforcement of the National Forestry Reform Law signed into law on 5 October 2006, and other new legislation related to revenue transparency (the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Act) and resolution of land and tenure rights (Community Rights Law with respect to Forest Lands and Lands Commission Act),

“Recalling its decision to terminate the measures in paragraph 6 of resolution 1521 (2003) regarding diamonds, and welcoming the Government of Liberia’s participation and leadership at the regional and international levels in the Kimberley Process, and encouraging the Government of Liberia to redouble its commitment and efforts to ensure the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme,

“Stressing the continuing importance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in improving security throughout Liberia and helping the Government establish its authority throughout the country, particularly in the diamond, timber, and other natural resources-producing regions, and border areas,

“Taking note of the final report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia pursuant to paragraph 9 (f) of resolution 1903 (2009), including on the issues of diamonds, timber, targeted sanctions, and arms and security,

“Having reviewed the measures imposed by paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) and the progress towards meeting the conditions set out by paragraph 5 of resolution 1521 (2003), and noting the Government of Liberia’s cooperation with UNMIL in weapons marking, and concluding that insufficient progress has been made towards that end,

“Underlining its determination to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts to meet the conditions of resolution 1521 (2003), welcoming the engagement of the Peacebuilding Commission, and encouraging all stakeholders, including donors, to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts,

“Acknowledging the implementation of the guidelines of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations on cooperation and information sharing between the United Nations peacekeeping missions and the Security Council’s Sanctions Committees’ expert panels,

“Determining that, despite significant progress having been made in Liberia, the situation there continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1. Decides to renew the measures on travel imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) for a period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution;

“2. Recalls that the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) remain in force, notes with serious concern the lack of progress with regards to the implementation of the financial measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), and demands that the Government of Liberia make all necessary efforts to fulfil its obligations;

“3. Decides to renew for a period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution the measures on arms, previously imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution 1521 (2003) and modified by paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1683 (2006), by paragraph 1 (b) of resolution 1731 (2006), and by paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of resolution 1903 (2009);

“4. Reconfirms its intention to review the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) at least once a year, and directs the Committee, in coordination with the Government of Liberia and relevant designating States and with the assistance of the Panel of Experts, to update as necessary the publicly available reasons for listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists as well as the Committee’s guidelines;

“5. Decides to review any of the above measures at the request of the Government of Liberia, once the Government reports to the Council that the conditions set out in resolution 1521 (2003) for terminating the measures have been met, and provides the Council with information to justify its assessment;

“6. Decides to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to paragraph 9 of resolution 1903 (2009) for a further period until 16 December 2011 to undertake the following tasks:

(a) To conduct two follow-up assessment missions to Liberia and neighbouring States, in order to investigate and compile a midterm and a final report on the implementation, and any violations, of the measures on arms as amended by resolution 1903 (2009), including any information relevant to the designation by the Committee of the individuals described in paragraph 4 (a) of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), and including the various sources of financing, such as from natural resources, for the illicit trade of arms;

(b) To assess the impact and effectiveness of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), including particularly with respect to the assets of former President Charles Taylor;

(c) To identify and make recommendations regarding areas where the capacity of Liberia and the States in the region can be strengthened to facilitate the implementation of the measures imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004);

(d) Within the context of Liberia’s evolving legal framework, assess the extent to which forests and other natural resources are contributing to peace, security and development rather than to instability and to what extent relevant legislation (National Forestry Reform Law, Lands Commission Act, Community Rights Law with respect to Forest Land, and Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Act) and other reform efforts are contributing to this transition, and to provide recommendations, if appropriate, on how such natural resources could better contribute to the country’s progress towards sustainable peace and stability;

(e) To assess the Government of Liberia’s compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and to coordinate with the Kimberley Process in assessing compliance;

(f) To provide a midterm report to the Council through the Committee by 1 June 2011 and a final report to the Council through the Committee by 1 December 2011 on all the issues listed in this paragraph, and to provide informal updates to the Committee as appropriate before those dates, especially on progress in the forest sector since the lifting of paragraph 10 of resolution 1521 (2003) in June 2006, and in the diamond sector since the lifting of paragraph 6 of resolution 1521 (2003) in April 2007;

(g) To cooperate actively with other relevant panels of experts, in particular that on Côte d’Ivoire re-established by paragraph 9 of resolution 1946 (2010) and that on the Democratic Republic of the Congo re-established by paragraph 5 of resolution 1952 (2010) with respect to natural resources;

(h) To cooperate actively with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;

(i) To assist the Committee in updating the publicly available reasons for listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists;

“7. Requests the Secretary-General to reappoint the Panel of Experts and to make the necessary financial and security arrangements to support the work of the Panel;

“8. Calls upon all States and the Government of Liberia to cooperate fully with the Panel of Experts in all the aspects of its mandate;

“9. Recalls that responsibility for controlling the circulation of small arms within the territory of Liberia and between Liberia and neighbouring States rests with the relevant governmental authorities in accordance with the Economic Community Of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons of 2006;

“10. Reiterates the importance of UNMIL’s continuing assistance to the Government of Liberia, the Committee, and the Panel of Experts, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, and without prejudice to its mandate, continue to carry out its tasks set forth in previous resolutions, including resolution 1683 (2006);

“11. Urges the Government of Liberia to implement the recommendations of the 2009 Kimberley Process review team to strengthen internal controls over diamond mining and exports;

“12. Encourages the Kimberley Process to continue to cooperate with the Panel of Experts and to report on developments regarding Liberia’s implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;

“13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

* *** *

For information media • not an official record

For information media. Not an official record.

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